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“No, Sheik. But I can ask the others if they’ve seen anything?”
Nassir nodded then stood. “Do that then report back to me, please. I’m going to call the airport and see if she has purchased a ticket home. Oh, and Hafa?”
The maid peeked her head around the door again. “Yes, sir?”
“Has my uncle Hazim been at the palace today?”
“I have not seen him, sir.”
“Thank you, Hafa.”
She bowed and departed again.
“What do you think has happened to her?” Adilan asked, his arms crossed as he leaned against the side of Nassir’s desk.
“I don’t know.” He checked his watch. “But I have to get ready. If we don’t start on time, the board will get suspicious and I can’t risk losing them at this point. Can I trust you to investigate this for me, brother, and report anything you find back to me immediately?”
“Of course.” Adilan bowed slightly. “What if the ceremony has already begun?”
“Then interrupt it if you must. I don’t care. Just find out the truth about what happened to the woman I love. Understand?”
“As you wish, brother.”
Chapter 16
Janna’s awoke with a horrible headache, her stomach knotted and her mouth dry. The mattress Hazim had placed her on was small and lumpy and smelled like musty old tube socks. At least he’d removed the tape from her mouth, though her wrists were still bound.
In the dim light of the bare bulb above, she scanned her surroundings, searching for some clue as to where he might be keeping her. He’d said he wouldn’t take her from the palace grounds, but the place was enormous. They could spend weeks looking for her and never find her.
Given the tarps on the floors and all the dust, this room either wasn’t used often or was under construction. Nassir had said both the north and the west wings of the palace were being renovated. That helped narrow her choices. A glimpse of hazy sunshine and greenery through the window on the far wall suggested she was somewhere close to the gardens. That narrowed it even farther. The north wing.
The angle of the sun’s rays told her it was still early in the morning. She’d lost track of time locked in here, but Hazim had been clear he’d wanted her to witness Nassir’s wedding so it couldn’t have happened yet. Which meant today must be the big day.
A key grated in the lock on the door and her muscles tensed. Since her abduction, Hazim had been less than nice each time he’d come into the room, and he’d also given her more of that foul smelling drug to keep her quiet. No food, just a bit of water after she’d tossed her cookies the day before. Whatever the drug was he used on her, it made her nauseous as hell.
Hazim walked into the room and closed the door behind him, his smile icy. If Janna didn’t know better, she’d think he was going to kill her. Except he wouldn’t do that. Not yet. Not until she’d watched the man she loved walk down the aisle and wed another woman. After that, all bets were off. “Ah, so you’re awake. Good. That will be helpful.”
He strode over to the mattress and stared down at her, his expression bland. “Wouldn’t want you to miss what would have been your wedding day.” He dragged a chair over to the window, then pulled a fresh roll of tape and several length of rope from his pockets.
“Why are you doing this?” She forced the words past her sandpaper throat, her voice hoarse from the drugs and dehydration.
“Because I will do whatever is necessary to get what I deserve.” Hazim walked back over to her and shoved a rag into her mouth then secured it in place with a new piece of duct tape.
Janna tried to scream, but that only made it harder to breath as he hauled her up by her aching arms and dragged her to the chair. Once he’d shoved her down into the seat, he tied her ankles to the chair legs and secured her wrists restraints with another piece of rope to the back of the chair.
Her shoulders felt like they’d pop out of joint from the stress, but resistance would get her nowhere at this point. She took a deep breath through her nose and forced her stiff body to relax as much as possible, knowing she’d need all her energy to figure out a way to escape.
Hazim patted her on the head like a little kid then opened the curtains, giving her a front row seat to the gardens below, dotted with brightly colored tents, a plethora of flowers and ice sculptures. Unwanted tears welled in her eyes despite her vow never to cry in front of his man. This should have been the happiest day of her life. Now, thanks to Hazim, it would be the worst.
“Well, then,” Hazim said, his voice dripping with false affection. “I’ll just leave you here to enjoy the festivities.”
He left and she lost it. Sobbing for she had no idea how long. She thought about her family back home and how much she missed them. Thought of Nassir and how much she’d grown to care for him in the short time she’d known him. The time they’d shared together. The love they’d lost. By the time her tears were spent, the sun had risen high in the sky. Lack of food and water, combined with the terror of the last thirty-six hours had made her light headed and woozy. She had a hard time discerning reality from fantasy.
Perhaps that’s why when the door burst open and Nassir’s brother, Adilan, ran into the room, she wasn’t sure if he was there or just a figment of her imagination.
“Janna?” He said, running up to her and assessing her condition, then crouching to loosen the ropes binding her. “Hang on, I’ll have you free in a moment.”
He loosened the ropes around her wrists and her feet, then with a cringe, tore the duct tape from her mouth to remove her gag. Her already raw skin protested the abuse and she cried out from a mix relief and agony. Moving her arms was sheer torture and she felt bruised all over, but never more glad to see anyone in her life.
